Borders Reviews

Pros

For many years, the company culture was reasonably progressive and fair-minded, if somewhat lax. There was room for advancement within, procedures weren't overly rigid, and the depth of our product inventory was a distinct competitive advantage. Had these advantages been managed properly, Borders would likely be the dominant player in this admittedly highly-competitive retail segment.

Cons

The book-centric, service-centric, innovative tendencies of the company gave way to careerism, regimentation, a devotion to spin over reality, management fads, and a variety of other ills as the company expanded and management became dominated by MBAs. By the end, the company had evolved into a self-destructive parody of its former self, run by people who knew and cared little about their product, their clientele, or their employees. A scary cautionary tale of what can go wrong in a corporate culture.

Advice to Senior Management

Even enlightened and capable management would have had a difficult time succeeding in this business. The revolving-door management of this company was consistently and dramatically not up to the task. Advice to them: too late now; the company is dead. Tens of thousands of jobs were lost on their watch. However much they may blame impersonal forces -- internet competition, the recession, etc,etc -- much of the responsibility lies squarely upon them and the board of directors who put them in place. In the future, please, unlearn virtually everything you think you've learned about business. Whatever your impulses dictate: chances are, the opposite is a better course. Above all, remember: spin does not equal reality.

Pros

It was a good place to work if you are a bibliophile, like to work with people who share your interests and can carry on an intelligent conversation.

Cons

It's no longer in business, and given the way it was managed at the store level, it is not wonder why it went out of business.

Pros

Separating work from home life

Cons

Recognition from others in senior management

Advice to Senior Management

Change the business model.

Pros

Books, books, books! The people are amazingly bright and truly passionate about books, the environment is supportive, but the company is managed so poorly it's a tragedy.

Cons

Management is running the company straight into the ground with no understanding of the book industry, the marketplace, or the consumer.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire employees at every level within the organization who at the very least have a love for books, and generally have experience within the bookselling or publishing industry.

Pros

A great place to work, retail yet intelligent retail. 90% of my coworkers had a B.A. if not a Masters degree.

Cons

As company began it's downward spiral...not enough payroll hours for tasks to be completed.

Advice to Senior Management

Stick with books!!

Pros

The people were great and proud of their work. It has been a great atmosphere to work in and the pay was good.

Cons

Senior management was weak and there was a lack of leadership. Payroll was inadequate and training left alot to be desired.

Advice to Senior Management

The leadership team should have been more stable and more concerned about selling books than BR+ memberships. There was a lack of direction.

Pros

the staff has been great and the atmosphere has been pleasant. The customers have been nice to be around and i have been happy there.

Cons

the pay is less than some other retail jobs and the direction of the company went downhill as time went on.

Advice to Senior Management

Upper management should have changed more quickly and adapted to the new environment concerning digital media and e-readers. they should have advertised more.

Pros

The company is solid to work for. It is great as a part-time job and has many opportunities for those looking for a full-time position.

Cons

Many of the stores around the country are closing.

Pros

I love books, so I liked the environment.
Good customer service is required for this job, and it is one of my best skills.

Cons

Micro-management from the top-down was sometimes a draw-back for managers in the stores. Some decisions made no sense to us, and we lacked the authority to make many of those decisions that would have made sense for our store, locally.

Advice to Senior Management

We wish that the buy-out had been successful, so that Border's would have been able to be re-structured and stay in business.

Pros

Customers, and if you loved books it was a nice place.

Cons

First of all they went out of business and had nowhere for all of it 10,000 employees to go. Upper mdgm had a lot of problems.

Advice to Senior Management

They should have done a super sale like the liquidators did to sell enouh product to get us out od debt.